Cats coming into my house...

madmittens

Am after some advice please.

I have cats of my own, but for the last couple of years I've also had an assortment of local cats coming through the catflap and helping themselves to a nosh! In the past, they've generally just come into the kitchen, eaten then left (mine have ad-lib biscuits). But when I came home yesterday I was greeted by my cats and an extra one that I've never seen before, which had obviously made itself comfortable somewhere in the house. Mine obviously haven't made a fuss about a stranger in the house

Then, this morning, there was yet another that I haven't seen before walking purposefully down the garden towards the catflap...

It's not that I mind them coming in, but obviously don't want my own upset, or injured in a brawl, and in the past one was a smelly old Tom :eek: (although he was definitely a stray). But I guess these other cats have their own homes.

I've tried the magnetic catflap approach - mine lose their collars within a few days (I think the record for keeping a collar on was a week), so I've had tape down the catch!

I guess the answer is to remove the biscuits, but am reluctant to do this as two of mine are tamed ferals that have irregular visit/mealtimes.

So is the only solution to get mine microchipped and replace the catflap (again) with one that reads chips?

Any advice appreciated!

4nnabella

I've got a staywell magnetic catflap, and neither of my two cats have ever lost a collar. When one of mine was wearing a traditional 'thread the strap through the buckle' kind of collar (like this), she lost them all the time but since they are now both wearing a staywell collar (one of these - it clips closed rather than threads through the buckle)then they have never lost them, and they've been wearing them for over a year now. I got one in the box with the catflap then got another off eBay. I also got a spare one, just in case, but have not needed it!

arbroath_lass

We ended up with a microchip catflap. We had the same problem - the new catflap is marvellous we've had no problems since we bought it. Another plus is the actual flap seems to cope with strong winds much better than any magnetic catflap we had.

I'd say it's been worth the price.

Edited to add - my cats lose collars all the time - both the thread through and the clips.

madmittens

Thanks 4nnabella, it's a Staywell catflap I have. However, I've tried all types of collars (always adjusted to fit properly) - it's cost a small fortune in collars/tags/magnets... I used to buy replacement magnets at Wilkinsons quite reasonably.

Arbroath Lass - may I ask the make of your catflap please? Are they very expensive? How are they programmed (is it easy)? I know nothing about these but it seems it may be my only solution!

Thanks!

chez22

I also had this problem, I originally got an infra red cat flap but my cats lost loads of collars and the replacements cost a fortune, it also meant my cats were stuck outside while I was at work.

I replaced it with a Pet Porte microchip cat flap and I've had no problems with it. They are easy to program, you just scan your cat's chip in. Not all chips are compatible but you can check if yours are on the Pet Porte website. They normally cost around £100 but Petplanet are selling them for £75.99 at the moment.

juliebunny

I had this problem, especially as my neighbours cats are always starving hungry - god knows what and how much she feeds them.

When I out i have to take up ALL food from the house - so there is no reason for the other cats to come in. You have to do this consistently for ever as cats are very persistent once they know a food source. My vet anyway told me to do this cos my cats are getting FAT!

And yes, I now feed the neighbours cats separately in the front garden, where my cats don't go anyway. They are fattening up nicely and wait there to be fed each day. She must know I'm doing it as they sit on my front door mat but hasn't said anything so assume she doesn't care.

arbroath_lass

Hi madmittens my catflap is a Petporte same as Chez22.

KiKi

juliebunny wrote: »

And yes, I now feed the neighbours cats separately in the front garden, where my cats don't go anyway. They are fattening up nicely and wait there to be fed each day. She must know I'm doing it as they sit on my front door mat but hasn't said anything so assume she doesn't care.

That's very kind of you - I'd do the same. Poor little things.

GobbledyGook

juliebunny wrote: »

And yes, I now feed the neighbours cats separately in the front garden, where my cats don't go anyway. They are fattening up nicely and wait there to be fed each day. She must know I'm doing it as they sit on my front door mat but hasn't said anything so assume she doesn't care.

Unless there are other issues about your neighbours cats then that is a very big assumption that she doesn't care.

My 2 cats do a brilliant impression of starving moggies. I've had constant battles with one of my neighbours in the past couple of years because she was adamant my cats were starving hungry whereas I know they are greedy! They were also getting 'fattened up' and ended up going through a battery of tests at the vets before I knew she was doing it because we were terribly concerned about the growing bellies. Before we moved back to the house I'm in now I had to make my poor boys housecats because my stupid neighbour wouldn't listen to the fact that they were well fed, but greedy cats and her "kindness" (her words not mine) was actually doing them far more harm than good.

I know people mean well, but seriously if there are no signs of neglect other than miaowing for food (which all the cats I've had have always done at the thought of food even if they have just been fed( then please don't feed other people's cats. You have no idea why they might be on a strict diet. It's one of my pet peeves (pardon the pun).

missindecisive

seriously agree with GOBBLEDYGOOK. just feed your own and never mind the neighbours cats. we had a neighbour who did this with our girl, fattened her up to the point were my vet was lecturing me on her getting diabetes..I just could'nt understand it as i had her on a strict diet! you may be doing more harm than good.